The medical name for stretch marks is striae. They are pale subcutaneous scars and are located where the skin is most stretched. Striae do not affect the general health of the skin, but they worry (especially women) due to changes in the appearance of the skin.
Stretch marks on the skin are not pleasant, but generally harmless. Striae can appear in both women and men, the main reason is a sharp weight gain.
Causes of stretch marks
Stretch marks can appear due to a malfunction in the hormonal system of the body, due to a sharp drop in weight, and not only from less to more, but also from more to less, i.e. due to drastic weight loss. Almost all women develop stretch marks as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding. With an increase in the volume of the abdomen, the skin on it stretches, and the subcutaneous layer of cells becomes thinner. The subcutaneous epithelium is not able to renew them with new cells, which leads to the appearance of excess connective tissue filling the "cavities". It is she who has a whitish or light pink color and is so different in structure from the main dermis.
One of the reasons for the appearance of stretch marks may be lack of elasticity of the skin, and a tendency to form cellulite, which is almost always inherited
Removing stretch marks at home
There are two ways to remove stretch marks: at home and with medical intervention. When dealing with stretch marks at home, it is advisable to use a three-step system of care for problem skin. This system includes the application of scrubs, rubbing in healing solutions and massage.
The use of scrubs. Take the coffee grounds, add some honey and massage the mass into the stretch marks skin. With the help of a scrub, the top layer of the skin, consisting of dead cells, is removed. With the help of honey, the skin is softened, and the coffee grounds peel off this layer.
The healing composition is rubbed into the skin after applying the scrub. You will need:
- jojoba oil;
- lavender;
- rosemary;
- lemon juice.
You can prepare it like this: take 10 drops of lavender, rosemary, lemon juice extracts. Mix these ingredients in 100 ml of jojoba oil. Place the solution in a dark place overnight. This solution can also be used as massage oil.
Stretching massage can be done daily. Apply any cosmetic oil to the skin and massage the problem area, gently rubbing it in circular movements. The massage will induce additional blood flow to problem areas, which will promote skin renewal on stretch marks. Of course, the formed connective tissue will not disappear completely, but it will be "covered" by a layer of the renewed epithelium, in other words, the striae will not be visible.
It is good to do wraps with a composition of seaweed and active ingredients a couple of times a week. Such formulations are sold in pharmacies in the form of gels, so they are very convenient to use. True, there are some tricks. You don't need to shower before wrapping, and the gel must be warm
Rub the skin with a fleecy mitt or dry washcloth, apply the composition and wrap the body (stomach, leg, etc.) with a wide cling film so as not to disrupt the blood supply. Lie on the couch and cover yourself with a blanket. It shouldn't be hot. After 20 minutes, remove the film and use napkins to remove the composition from the body, and then take a contrast shower.
